Antebellum Stafford

Slave Labor at Government Island Quarry

Over 220 year-old pick marks are still visible where Federal-era immigrant stone-cutters and slaves cut and moved the Aquia sandstone from Government Island quarry to build the President’s House and U.S. Capitol in D.C., as well as many public and private buildings throughout the new nation. Sprinkled throughout the county were other stone quarries which also used slave labor. (Photo: Lou Cordero, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)